FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The total expenditures for field operations under my charge during the fiscal year 1897 were as follows: For salaries..... For subsistence For fuel... For outfit and repair of same.. For 20 per cent of original cost of instrument outfit, the same amount having been charged to field operations for fiscal years 1894, 1895, and 1896.. Total...... Of this amount the proper allotment to the various operations is as follows: $3,336.51 965.43 138.80 245.04 61.00 4, 746. 78 During the season I was assisted by Recorders Andrew J. Swift and Howard N. Eavenson, who performed their various duties at all times in the most satisfactory manner. Recorder H. N. Eavenson had personal charge of the precise-level work, and proved himself in every way highly proficient to execute the work he was intrusted with. I also desire to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Rodman Murray Blanchard, who, during the greater portion of the field season, was in charge of instrumental work, in all of which he proved himself conscientious and painstaking. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Mr. E. S. WHEELER, Assistant Engineer. H. VON SCHON, Assistant Engineer. E. REPORT OF MR. II. VON SCHON, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to herewith submit a special report on the completed extension of precise levels from Charlotte River to Detour light, which work has been under my charge. Synopsis. The programme for this work, as approved in Angust, 1895, consisted of the extending of the precise-level line which was carried from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., to the Charlotte River, a distance of about 15 miles, in 1883, to the shore of Lake Huron, near the Detour light, being a distance of about 52 miles. Narrative. The field work was entered upon on September 18, 1895, and continued to November 18, 1895, but by reason of the extreme inclemency of the weather during this period, only nineteen days could be utilized, and the line was only carried over about one-fifth of the required distance. The work was again taken up on September 3, 1896, and completed on October 30, 1896. DESCRIPTION OF PRECISE-LEVEL LINE LOCATION. The beginning of the projected extension was P. B. M. 34, being the southernmost bench mark on the line of precise levels carried from P. B. M. "F" on the wall of the Weitzel Lock in 1883 by Joseph Ripley, assistant engineer. This bench is described as the top of a boat spike driven in a cut in the east side of a double elm tree standing on the east side of the Hay Lake road, and on the south bank of the Charlotte River. The bench was found and identified, but in accordance with your instructions, another P. B. M. was established in close vicinity of P. B. M. 3. The actual point of beginning of the line of precise levels carried under my charge from Charlotte River to Lake Huron is therefore P. B. M. Charlotte River, about 140 feet south of the south bank of Charlotte River and on the east side of the Hay Lake road; thence the line continues south along the Hay Lake road to the intersection of the Rosedale road about 700 feet; thence westerly along the Rosedale road to the intersection with the County road about 1 mile; thence southerly along the County road about 3 miles; thence easterly along the County road about half a mile to P. B. M. Barbeau Settlement; thence easterly along the County road about half a mile; thence southerly along the County road about 1 mile; thence easterly along the County road about three-quarters of a mile; thence generally southerly following the County road for a distance of about 4 miles to the crossing of Little Munuskong River at Keldon post-office; thence southerly along the County road about 1,400 feet to P. B. M. Munuskong; thence southerly along the County road for about 1 mile to the Big Munuskong River; thence westerly along a road and the north side of the Big Munuskong River for about three-quarters of a mile; thence southerly along the County road crossing the Big Munuskong River and continuing along said road southerly for a distance of about 3 miles to P. B. M. Kelley; thence easterly along a road for 1 mile; thence southerly along a road for 1 mile; thence easterly along a road for 1 mile; thence southerly along a road for 1 mile to P. B. M. Fairview at Sims Corner; thence southerly along the same road for 1 mile; thence easterly along the County road for 14 miles; thence southeasterly along the same road for one-half a mile; thence southerly along the same road for three-quarters of a mile to Tripps Corner; thence easterly along the County road for 1 mile to P. B. M. Tripp; thence southerly along the same road for 1 mile; thence easterly along the road for 2 miles; thence southerly along the County road for 1 mile; thence easterly along the road for half a mile to P. B. M. Hudsons Corner; thence southerly along the road for 1 mile; thence easterly along the road for about 3 miles to P. B. M. Gatesville. From this point a branch line was run northeasterly along the Raber road for a distance of about 2 miles to P. B. M. Raber, being near the shore of St. Marys River. From P. B. M. Gatesville the line follows the road southerly for about 2 miles, thence southeasterly for about 1 mile, thence easterly for half a mile, thence southerly for about 1 mile to P. B. M. Schlesser, at Rusks Corner, thence southerly for about 1 mile to Camerons Corner, thence generally easterly along the Detour road for about 44 miles to P. B. M. Caribou Lake, on the south side of Caribou Lake, thence continuing generally easterly along the same road for about 4 miles to P. B. M. Detour, in the village of Detour and at the southwest corner of Superior and Drummond streets, and thence generally southwesterly along a road for about 3 miles to P. B. M. Detour Light, being under the light tower and the terminal of the Precise Level line. DESCRIPTION OF PERMANENT BENCH MARKS. Thirteen permanent bench marks were established along the line, the location of each being described as follows: Permanent bench mark Charlotte River is described as being the top of a 4-inch iron bolt, projecting about 2 inches above the top of a cut stone 2 feet long and 6 inches square, with the letters "U.S." cut in top of stone. The stone rests on a stiff clay bottom, its top being about 3 feet below the surface of the ground. A cedar post 4 inches square stands on top of the stone and about 1 foot above surface, with the letters "U. S. B. M." cut in its faces. It stands about 3 feet from east side of Hay Lake road and about 140 feet south from the south bank of Charlotte River. It is referred to the following witnesses: A stone 4 inches square and projecting about 5 inches above ground with letters "U.S." cut in its side, south 64 west, 59 feet from P. B. M. Charlotte River. P. B. M. 3 is north 50' west, 126.4 feet from P. B. M. Charlotte River. The northeast corner of a house on east side of road is south 1° 10' cast from P. B. M. Charlotte River. The southeast corner of a house on west side of road is south 20° 40′ west from P. B. M. Charlotte River. Permanent bench mark Barbeau Settlement (formerly called Barber) is described as being the top of a 4-inch iron bolt, projecting one-half inch above the top of cut stone 2 feet long and 6 inches square, with its top about 3 feet below the surface of the ground. A cedar post 4 inches square is set on top of stone and projects about 1 foot above the ground, with the letters "U. S. B. M." cut in two sides. The bench mark is on the south side of the road, 3 feet from the fence on top of a little knoll, with the following references to witness: A small oak tree on south side of road is south 89° 15' east, 189.5 feet from bench mark. The southeast corner of a house north of road is north 18 east from bench mark. The southeast corner of a barn south of road is south 86° 15′ west from bench mark. Permanent bench mark Munuscong is described as being the top of a 4-inch iron bolt projecting about half an inch above the surface of a cut stone 2 feet long and 6 inches square, which is set in the ground resting on stiff clay bottom, with its center about 3 feet below the surface of the ground. A cedar post 5 inches square is set on top of stone and projects about 10 inches above ground. P. B. M. Munus cong stands in the Munuscong road near the east side of it 3 feet from the fence, near the northwest corner of Walter Todd's field, with the following references to witnesses: To quarter-section post north 15" west, 212 meters from P. B. M. To northwest corner of barn south 2° 30' east, 91 meters from P. B. M. To northeast corner of house south 12° 15' west, 243 meters from P. B. M. Permanent bench mark Kelley is described as being the top of an iron bolt leaded into a stone 6 inches square on top and 20 inches high. The bolt is about one-half inch above the stone and is between the letters "U. S." cut into the top of the stone. A cedar post 6 inches in diameter, squared to 4 inches on top, has the letters "U.S. B. M." cut into opposite sides, is placed above the stone, but is separated from it by a layer of clay. The post projects 3 feet above the ground. The stone is buried in the clay with its top 2.5 feet below the ground. It is on the south side of the road, and will be east of the other road when it is opened. No trees of sufficient size are near it to which it could be referred. The stone is 1 mile east and 1 mile south of Sterlingville and 3 miles east and 1 mile north of Pickford. Permanent bench mark Fairview is described as being the top of a inch iron bolt, set in the top of a stone 6 inches square on top and 20 inches high. The bolt projects one-half inch above the stone, which has the letters "U.S." cut into its upper face. The stone is buried in sand, with its top 2.5 feet below the surface of the ground. A cedar post 6 inches in diameter, with its top squared to 4 inches and the letters "U.S. B. M." cut into opposite faces, is set over the stone, but is separated from it by a layer of sand. The stone is near the Fairview schoolhouse and is on the northeast corner of the road. It is 5 miles east and 1 mile south of Pickford and 3 miles north and 1 mile west of Stalwart. Permanent bench mark Tripp is described as being the top of a 4-inch iron bolt in the top of a stone 6 inches square on top and about 20 inches high. The bolt projects about one-half inch above the top of the stone, which has the letters "U.S." cut into it, one on each side of the bolt. The stone is buried 2.5 feet below the surface of the ground and rests in sand. A cedar post 6 inches in diameter, 4 inches square on top, with the letters "U.S.B.M." cut into its opposite faces, is placed over the stone, but is separated from it by a layer of sand. The stone is on the east side of the road, at the turn by the bluff. Three trees have been blazed and marked "R. P." and a nail was put on each blaze. The stone is 1 mile east of Tripps Corner and 2 miles east and 1 mile north of Stalwart. Permanent bench mark Hudsons Corner is described as being the top of an iron bolt leaded into a cut stone about 6 inches square on top and 20 inches high. The bolt is about one-quarter inch in diameter and projects`one-quarter inch above the surface of the stone. The stone is buried in the sand, with its top about 2.5 feet below the ground. The letters "U.S." are cut into the top of the stone. The stone is set 6 feet south of a fence, 8.5 feet southeast of a telephone post, and 47 feet northwest of a section corner stake. A cedar post 6 inches in diameter, with its upper end 4 inches square, has the letters "U.S.B.M." cut into opposite faces, and is directly over the stone, with about 6 inches of sand between the top of the stone and the bottom of the post. The post projects 10 inches above the ground. Permanent bench mark Gatesville is described as being the top of a §-inch iron bolt set in the top of a stone 6 inches square on top and 20 inches high, with the letters "U.S." cut into its upper face. The bolt projects about five-eighths of an inch above the stone. The stone is buried in sand, with its top about 3 feet below the surface of the ground, and a cedar post 6 inches in diameter, squared to 4 inches on top, with the letters "U.S.B.M." cut into its opposite faces, is placed over the stone, but is separated from it by a layer of sand. The post projects 2.5 feet above the ground. The stone is buried on the north side of the county road 1 mile north of Gatesville. It is 7 feet west of a large hemlock stump at the corner of the road. Permanent bench mark Raber is described as being the top of an iron bolt set in the top of a stone 6 inches square on top and 20 inches high. The bolt projects about one-half inch above the stone, between the letters "U. S." cut in its upper face. A cedar post 6 inches in diameter, squared to 4 inches on top, has the letters "U. S. B. M." cut into opposite faces, and is placed over the stone. It projects about 2 feet above the ground. The stone is buried in the sand, and has its top about 2.5 feet below the ground. It is on the south side of the road, below the blacksmith shop. Permanent bench mark Schlesser is described as being the top of a §-inch iron bolt projecting about one-quarter of an inch above the top of a stone 6 inches square on top and 20 inches high. The stone has the letters "U.S." cut into its upper face. The stone is buried in the sand, with its top about 2.5 feet below the surface of the ground. A 6-inch cedar post, 4 inches square on top, and with the letters "U. S. B. M." cut into opposite faces, is placed over the stone, and is separated from it by a layer of sand. The stone is at Rusks Corner, near the Schlesser schoolhouse, and is on the west side of the road, and about 2.5 feet from the middle of it. The stone will be in the center of the road to Schlesser when it is opened. Permanent bench mark Caribou Lake is described as being the top of an iron bolt three-eighths of an inch in diameter and projecting one-quarter of an inch above the top of the stone. The stone is 6 inches square on top and 20 inches high. It has the letters "U.S." cut into its top face. It rests on sand, and its top is about 3 feet below the ground. The bench mark is on the northeast side of the road about 350 meters east of where the road first touches the lake shore. A cedar post 6 inches in diameter, squared to 4 inches on top, and the letters "U. S. B. M." cut into its opposite sides, is placed over the stone, and projects about 3 feet above the ground. About 4 inches of sand separates the bottom of the post and the top of the stone. Permanent bench mark Detour is described as being the top of an iron bolt set in a cut stone 6 inches square on top and about 20 inches deep. The bolt is about three-eighths of an inch in diameter and projects about one quarter of an inch above the stone. The stone has the letters "U.S." cut in top, one on each side of the bolt. The bench mark is situated at the southwest corner of Superior and Drummond streets, between the sidewalk and the street. It is about 2.5 feet below the surface of the street, and a cedar post 6 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, with the top squared to 4 inches and with the letters "U. S. B. M." cut into opposite sides, is placed above it. The post projects about 3 feet above the surface of the ground. Permanent bench mark Detour Light is described as being the center of a cross cut in the cast-iron anchor plate at the northwest corner of the Detour light-house. The point is midway between the post and the northwest bolt in the plate, and is marked "U. S. X B. M." The letters are cut into the plate. The temporary bench mark is a cross in the top of the large rock just north of the light-house. The cross is on the southwestern corner of the rock, and is marked with black paint, and has the letters "F. B. M." painted beside it. Record sheet No. 37, "Precise Levels," containing a general topographic plot of the location of the entire level line on a scale of 1:40,000, and detail topographic plots of the thirteen permanent bench marks established on a scale of 1: 10,000, is hereby respectfully submitted as part of this report. FIELD WORK. The party executing this work consisted of five members, Recorder Howard N. Eavenson being in charge. The instruments used were the Kern level No. 2 and the precise level rods No. 3 and No. 5. The party camped in tents, and was moved from time to time by a team attached to it permanently. The method followed was generally that laid down in "Instructions for making precise levels," as appearing in Appendix O O, pages 2426-2429, of the Annual Report of 1880 in the report of L. L. Wheeler, assistant engineer. The instrument constants were determined at the beginning and after the completion of the work; the errors of collimation and inclination were determined at the beginning and end of each day's operations, and return levels were carried over lines between bench marks until the discrepancy between the two lines was brought within the permissible limit equal to 5 mm. Vdistance in kilometers. In addition to the carrying of the precise levels, detail topographic survey was made of the entire line and so much of the adjoining country as was instrumentally obtainable from the line. This survey was made by transit and plane table according to the methods of the stadia survey. The plat of this survey has already been referred to as being herewith submitted. RESULTS. All the field notes were reduced and the resulting data adjusted and tabulated under my direction by Recorder Howard N. Eavenson; but owing to the fact that I have been on continuous leave of absence since the completion of the field work of which I had charge, I have not had an opportunity to make that duplicate reduction and adjustment check which I should be desirous to make before reporting the tabulated results. It also appears that greater precision might be secured were the absolute lengths of rods No. 1 and No. 5 determined by something better than comparison with rod No. 2, the latter being the only one of the set of which the absolute length was determined by comparison with a standard meter. (See report of Mr. F. W. Lehnartz, assistant engineer, Appendix L L, p. 1387, Annual Report of 1878.) FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The total cost of the work of extending the precise levels has been as follows: PRESERVATION OF BENCH MARKS ALONG THE ERIE CANAL. REPORT OF MAJ. WILLIAM S. STANTON, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Oswego, N. Y., July 20, 1897. GENERAL: I have the honor to subjoin hereto my annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, of work for the transfer and security of certain bench marks established by the United States Lake Survey in 1875 along the line of the Erie and Oswego canals. The bench marks were transferred under an allotment from the appropriation for "Survey of Northern and Northwestern lakes," 1895. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. S. STANTON, Major, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. Brig. Gen. JOHN M. WILSON, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. SURVEY OF THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES. [Allotment for securing the United States Lake Survey bench marks threatened with obliteration by the enlargement of the Erie Canal.] In the enlargement of the Erie Canal the lengthening and raising of the walls of the locks and the raising of the bridge piers, now in progress by the State of New York, would obliterate the following bench marks, which were cut upon the locks and piers and which, in November, 1896, were temporarily transferred as follows by Mr. John C. Churchill, jr., assistant engineer: No. 15, at Aqueduct, N. Y., transferred to top of an iron rod firmly driven in the ground and buried beneath the surface. No. 15a, at Aqueduct, N. Y., transferred to a point on Canal Lock 21, which will not be disturbed. No. 40, near Ilion, N. Y., transferred to a nail in an oak post buried beneath the surface of the ground in the canal bank. No. 40a, near Ilion, N. Y., transferred to a pier in the bridge just west of Lock 43, which will not be disturbed. No. 48, at Rome, N. Y., transferred to the top of a stone pier of a gristmill near Jay Street Bridge, Rome, N. Y. The bench marks thus temporarily transferred will be transferred back to the locks and bridge piers when the alterations to them are completed. The bench marks are described on pages 611 and 613, volume 24, Professional Papers, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., Primary Triangulations, United States Lake Survey. |